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Ewing sarcoma is a rare sarcoma that usually grows in the bones, but it can sometimes start in soft tissues like the muscles or organs. It usually grows in the long bones of the arms or legs, but it can also show up in the pelvis, chest wall or spine.
Ewing Sarcoma Care Tailored to You
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Symptoms and Signs
The symptoms of Ewing sarcoma can sometimes be hidden and not noticeable. That’s because they can appear to be sports injuries or growing pains at first. However, the difference is that the symptoms of Ewing sarcoma do not go away. Common signs include:
- Bone pain that may feel worse at night or during activity
- A soft, warm lump or swelling in the arms, legs, chest or pelvis
- A bone that breaks after a very minor injury (because the tumor made the bone weak)
- Feeling very tired or having a fever for no clear reason
- Losing weight without trying
- Limping (if the tumor is in the leg or hip)
- Numbness or weakness (if a tumor is pressing on nerves near the spine)
Causes and Risk Factors
Researchers do not know exactly what causes Ewing sarcoma, but they know it happens because of an error in a cell’s DNA. Specifically, pieces of two different chromosomes get mismatched and combine after a person is born. (This genetic change is not passed down from parents to children.) While anyone can get Ewing sarcoma it is most common in white male teenagers.
Ewing Sarcoma Care Team
At Fred Hutch, we offer comprehensive treatment from a team of experts who specialize in soft tissue sarcomas and bone cancers.
Learn more about sarcoma specialists at Fred Hutch.
Diagnosing Ewing Sarcoma
There is no regular screening test for Ewing sarcoma. Usually, it’s discovered after a patient is having swelling or pain and goes to a physician for help.
To help diagnose the condition, a physician may use imaging tests like X-rays, MRI scans or CT scans which allows them to see detailed pictures of the bone. They may also use a PET scan to see if the cancer is in other parts of the body. They might order blood tests, too.
A biopsy needs to be performed to know for certain whether a person has Ewing sarcoma and to find out its stage. A biopsy is where a physician takes a small sample of the tumor so it can be examined in a lab under a microscope.
Learn more about diagnosing sarcoma.
Treating Ewing Sarcoma
Treatment usually starts with chemotherapy, to shrink the tumor and help destroy any hidden cancer cells. After chemotherapy, a physician might recommend surgery to remove the tumor or radiation. Once the main tumor is treated, patients may often have more chemotherapy to help ensure any cancer cells that might remain are destroyed.
Fred Hutch treats children with Ewing sarcoma at our proton therapy facility.
Learn more about treating sarcoma.
Prognosis and Survival
When physicians and scientists talk about cancer survival rates, they typically mean the percentage of people expected to survive their cancer for at least five years after being diagnosed. (The rate doesn’t include the risk of dying during that time for some other reason.) Overall, the relative five-year survival rate for Ewing sarcoma in the U.S. is 65% according to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program database from the National Cancer Institute.
This rate comes from looking at a large, varied group of people. The chance of surviving cancer at least five years can vary greatly from one person to another. It depends on many factors, like how far the cancer has spread. Your Fred Hutch care team can explain how statistics like survival rates might apply to you.
Learn more about prognosis and survival of sarcoma.